The break in play caused by coronavirus has come at just the wrong time for Vinicius Junior.

The Brazilian’s season had been a roller coaster, from being left out of squads in the autumn to its highest point in March.

The campaign didn’t start very well for Vinicius, who fell down the pecking order at Real Madrid because of his inconsistent performances.

The arrival of Eden Hazard meant that his favoured position on the left wing was now taken up and, after he’d struggled to make an impact from the right, he lost his place to a compatriot.

Rodrygo Goes came into the team in October and November and provided a much more concrete threat than his fellow Brazilian on the right wing.

Everything changed for Vinicius during the Madrid derby at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in February when he came off the bench and changed the game in the hosts’ favour.

Hazard’s return from injury caused more problems, but then the Belgian was back on the treatment table and Vinicius was back in the team.

The 19-year-old started against Manchester City in the Champions League, assisting Isco’s opener during the 2-1 defeat.

He was also picked for the crucial Clasico against Barcelona, breaking the deadlock with a goal of his own against Real Madrid’s great rivals.

However, his momentum was halted by the closure of football in Spain and across Europe because of COVID-19.

Something similar happened in March 2019 when, just as Vinicius was hitting form in a Real Madrid shirt, he injured his knee against Ajax in the Champions League.